La misura delle catene leggere libere nel liquor nella diagnosi della sclerosi multipla

AUTORI

ABSTRACT

Cerebrospinal fluid kappa and lambda free light chains for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis

Presently, oligoclonal band (OCB) detection is considered the gold standard for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis. The technique is however cumbersome and requires interpretative expertise for the evaluation of dubious OCB patterns. Recently, the kappa and lambda free light chains (FLCs) measurement in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been suggested as potential diagnostic tool. We describe here two case reports where the FLCs determination contributed importantly to the diagnosis. A 43 years old female with left homonym hemianopia and frontal headache showed a negative OCBs pattern showing only a single monoclonal band. CSF and serum FLCs were within the reference range while kFLC index was positive. Visual evoked potentials and magnetic resonance investigation (MRI) were suggestive of clinically isolated syndrome. A 55 year old female with visual left homonym hemianopia and mild retroorbital pain showed very similar findings with a negative pattern for OCBs, and a single monoclonal band. CSF FLCs were slightly above the upper value of the reference range and kFLC index was positive. Evoked potentials and MRI were suggestive for MS diagnosis. In conclusion, the FLCs quantification in CSF could be a valid tool to support MS diagnosis especially in the presence of unclear OCB results.

BIBLIOGRAFIA